2025 Convention Highlights: Uncertainty in D.C., youth behavioral health, housing as a health driver, and digesting Ohio’s state budget
Planning for and hosting our annual two day-convention is a lot of work, but I can genuinely say it’s well worth the effort, not just for our members and partners but for me and my team, as well. Yes, we learn, share and network, but I love the simple fact that we get to spend time together in person. With so many of my interactions taking place on Zoom and Teams, I relish the chance to meet with everyone in real life. I hope those who attended feel the same way.
I also hope they found value in the topics we addressed this year. We really put a lot of thought into the overall program, and I’d like to think that the attendees gained new insights, knowledge and ideas from our lineup of speakers.
We kicked off the convention Tuesday with our annual media panel, a popular session which this year featured Mike Thomspon of WOSU, Karen Kasler from the Statehouse News Bureau and Jeremy Pelzer from Cleveland.com. Their candid comments about current political issues — from vaccine recommendations and the MAHA movement to the effects of gambling on mental health — were interesting, thought-provoking and, at times, humorous, delivering a welcomed laugh from the audience.
Josh Trent, the CEO of health care consulting firm Leavitt Partners, came from Washington, D.C. to share his knowledge about federal health policy issues. He emphasized how the health care and health insurance industries are facing more variables and more uncertainty than ever before, which makes it tough to make decisions and implement changes at the state level. He concluded his presentation with a discussion about what health plan leaders can invest in now in order to better navigate the changing landscape.
Teresa Lampl, CEO of the Ohio Council of Behavioral Health & Family Services Providers, and Teresa Kobelt, chief innovation officer for the Ohio Provider Resource Association, provided a thought-provoking and candid assessment of youth behavioral health in Ohio. They talked about the growing crisis, stating that more than 30% of our young people have a behavioral health issue. Among kids with intellectual disabilities, that number jumps to 70%! Those are staggering numbers that reflect the seriousness of this problem. The two leaders talked about the importance of dedicating resources to this problem, particularly related to prevention and to the behavioral health workforce shortage, in order to ensure that our youth have the support they urgently need.
On Wednesday morning, we had an outstanding panel discussing housing as a component of good health and the role health plans can take in coming up with innovative housing solutions. Communities need a continuum of housing, everything from shelters, transitional housing and group housing to subsidized housing, affordable housing and market-based housing. Yet many communities lack interim housing options like government-subsidized and affordable housing, according to the expert panel. If we’re truly looking at housing as a component of health, they said health plans can play a bigger role in making sure their members have access to a continuum of available, affordable housing options.
Our last panel included representatives from the Ohio Senate, the Ohio House, the Ohio Department of Insurance and the Ohio Department of Medicaid. Led by longtime Statehouse budget expert Brian Perera, they had an interesting conversation about the state’s budget, sharing an insider’s view of the overall budget process. It’s always helpful to gain new perspectives into the inner workings of the state agencies and legislature.
As always, we closed the convention with our annual Pinnacle Awards presentation. Congratulations to this year’s winners, AmeriHealth Caritas Ohio and Molina Healthcare of Ohio!
AmeriHealth Caritas Ohio won for its first-of-its-kind mobile gaming platform to address long-standing gaps in Medicaid member care and engagement. Molina Healthcare of Ohio won for introducing a mobile app that provides members who have experienced a traumatic injury with timely peer support.
These programs show how Ohio’s health plans are leading the way in finding creative solutions to solving persistent challenges in health care. It’s an honor to recognize them for the innovative work they’re doing to improve engagement with and health outcomes for their members.
The Pinnacle Awards presentation let us end the convention on a really positive note. I know that the awards, along with our sessions, inspired our members to continue being creative with solutions for problems facing Ohioans. I hope the speakers and sponsors gave everyone new ideas, new partners and new information that will help all of us as we strive to make health care more affordable and accessible to all.
One final note. I have heard over and over again from attendees, vendors and sponsors that this is one of the best-run conventions they attend each year. Well, there’s one person in particular who deserves the credit for these accolades. I want to give a huge shoutout to Stacy Bewley, our senior director of association services. Stacy, who has been with OAHP since 2000, is the driving force behind every detail that makes this convention a success. Her dedication and organization ensure that year after year, our members and partners have an outstanding experience. Many, many thanks to Stacy!
